Maldivian military begins patrolling and maintaining surveillance over maritime territory recently designated as part of Mauritius under international maritime law
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has announced that a special surveillance operation is currently underway to monitor the country's southern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using MNDF Air Corps drones and Coast Guard vessels.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has launched a special surveillance operation to monitor the country's southern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The operation is being conducted using the Coast Guard Ship *Dharmavantha* in coordination with drones from the MNDF Air Corps. | MNDF | MNDF
Following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s declaration that the Maldives will not accept the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruling regarding the overlapping maritime boundaries between the Maldives and Mauritius, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has begun patrolling the waters designated to Mauritius under the ruling.
In a statement released on 'X' on Thursday night, the Ministry of Defense reaffirmed that the Maldivian government does not recognize any changes to the sovereign territory of the Maldives as defined by the Constitution and existing laws. This follows President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s declaration during the 2026 Presidential Address on February 5, 2024, where he asserted the nation's territorial integrity. The Ministry assured the public that the Maldives National Defence Force will continue its operations to monitor and protect the maritime zones mandated under Law No. 06/96 (Maldives Maritime Zones Act).
Despite the ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the overlapping maritime boundary between Mauritius and the Maldives, President Muizzu declared during his 2024 Presidential Address to the People's Majlis that his administration does not accept the decision.
ITLOS reached its decision on the matter following a case submitted by Mauritius to the tribunal in 2022.
Following the submission by Mauritius to delimit the overlapping maritime boundaries, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) divided the territory between the two nations, awarding the Maldives a total of 47,232 square kilometers and Mauritius 45,331 square kilometers.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has announced the launch of a special surveillance operation to monitor the nation's Southern Exclusive Economic Zone. Initiated under the directive of President Muizzu, the operation utilizes the MNDF Coast Guard Ship *Dharmavantha* alongside drones from the MNDF Air Corps.
